“Daddy’s snake is so big… it hurts…”

But she had never heard a child sound like that.

Small.
Shaking.
Trying not to cry too loudly.

Claire straightened in her chair.

“Sweetheart, what’s your name?”

For a second, there was only ragged breathing.

Then a tiny whisper.

“Emily.”

Claire’s fingers tightened around her headset.